Rep. Chris Pappas wins New Hampshire Democratic Senate primary over progressive challenger Karishma Manzur
Rep. Chris Pappas won the Democratic Senate nomination in New Hampshire on Tuesday, defeating first-time candidate Karishma Manzur. The race is for the seat being vacated by retiring Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, who will not seek re-election. Pappas will face former Sen. John E. Sununu in the general election, after Sununu defeated former Sen. Scott Brown in the Republican primary.
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Rep. Chris Pappas secured the Democratic nomination for New Hampshire's open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating Karishma Manzur, a scientist with a Ph.D. in biochemistry, DSA member, and nonprofit leader who was running for office for the first time. The Associated Press called the race for Pappas, who had been the front-runner since Sen. Jeanne Shaheen announced early last year that she would not seek re-election.
Pappas, who has held his congressional seat since 2018, carried establishment and union support into the race and has described the political system as "rigged for billionaires." In his victory speech, he sought to unify the party, saying, "I want to say something to everyone who supported another candidate in today's primary. Whether you voted for Karishma Manzur, Scott Brown or someone else, I'm running to represent all Granite Staters and this campaign is for you."
Manzur ran on a platform that included universal health care, a minimum wage of at least $20 per hour, abolishing ICE, and ending all U.S. military aid to Israel. She had drawn a bump in support in the final weeks before the primary and was sharply critical of Pappas's ties to the pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC. Pappas, for his part, described Israel as "a historic ally of the United States, the only democracy in the region," while also stating that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is "being incredibly reckless right now."